JOE COLE’S reckless tackle 45 minutes into his Premier League debut for Liverpool could see him miss the crucial clash against Manchester United.

Joe Cole’s sending off for a challenge on Laurent Koscielny in the 1-1 draw againstArsenal yesterday has given new Liverpool's manager Roy Hodgson a major dilemma. Cole faces a three-match ban that will include next week’s trip to Manchester City and Hodgson must now decide whether an appeal is worth the risk.

If the FA feel the action is frivolous, Cole would also sit out the trip to Old Trafford on September 19. Koscielny

was carried off on a stretcher, but managed to
play until the latter stages of the game before he too received his
marching orders for a second yellow card in stoppage time.

Cole is not one I would like to place on record as a guy who tries to hurt people

Arsene Wenger

But
while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted the repercussions of the
challenge could have been a lot worse, he felt Cole was acting out of
character.

“Thankfully, his shin pad protected
him well,” said Wenger. “We were scared it was broken. When he came off
the pitch the physio said it could be broken, but thankfully it wasn’t.

“But Cole is not one I would like to place on record as a guy who tries to hurt people. That is not his style.

“He was maybe a bit rushed into his tackle and he kicked him accidentally because he had a big mark on his shin.”

It
was the first time in his career that Cole has been sent off. “Joe is
devastated,” said Hodgson. “It was his debut at Anfield. He was so
desperate to do well. He has not been playing at the top of his game,
but he was trying hard to get there – then he gets sent off.

“I
have seen the TV replays and they suggest he is a little bit unlucky.
He didn’t dive at the player, he dived in front of the ball.

“He
will be a big loss if he is suspended and maybe we will try and see if
there is some way for the referee to have a look at it again.”